Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident: One Killed, One Injured

In an early morning pedestrian accident in Fort Lauderdale, a woman and a man were hit by a passing vehicle as they attempted to cross, on foot, State Road 7. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the man died at the scene of the accident. The woman has been taken to Broward General Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The accident happened just after 3:00 a.m.

According to The Miami Herald, the accident happened as a driver of an SUV headed northbound on 7. The driver said he was following another vehicle when that vehicle moved out of the way to avoid the pedestrians and he didn’t have time to do the same. Before he could swerve to avoid the two walkers, he slammed into them. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with investigators. The accident is still under investigation.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that many residents rely on their feet and on bicycles to get around. Those who don’t have to rely on these forms of transportation often choose to walk and bike around the area as a fast, friendly, healthy and cost-effective way to get through the city. During this time of the year, more and more residents are setting out on foot and on two wheels. It’s important for drivers to keep an eye out for these vulnerable travelers. Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists oftentimes produce fatal results.

Pedestrian accidents are a huge problem in the state of Florida. We are continuously ranked number one when tallying pedestrian accidents for each year. Nationally speaking, drivers just aren’t paying attention to these vulnerable travelers. As a matter of fact, there were roughly 48,000 pedestrians killed across the U.S. from 2000 to 2009. In addition to that, there were nearly 700,000 pedestrians injured in traffic-related accidents during this time, according to Transportation For America. Statistics reveal that a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle every 7 minutes in the U.S.

What’s even more alarming is that areas in Florida make up the top 4 most dangerous spots for fatal pedestrian accidents in the country. These areas were the Orlando and Kissimmee area, the Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater area, the Jacksonville area as well as the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach area. From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 5,200 people who were killed in pedestrian accidents across the state of Florida, giving us the number one ranking for the most dangerous state in the country. During that time, our area saw the most fatalities, nearly 2,000.

Drivers are asked to be cautious out there and keep a conscious eye out for pedestrians along our roadways. Alert driving habits can help to curb fatal pedestrian accidents. more If you, a close friend or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Broward County, contact Fort Lauderdale Accident Lawyer Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or (954) 761-4011 to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

More Blog Entries: Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Broward Country Along A1A Concern Locals, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 30, 2012 Pedestrian Accident in Fort Lauderdale Forces Traffic Reroutes, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 17, 2012